Arsenal nearly signed 27-year-old Gustavo last summer but the midfielder wanted assurances about playing regularly which Wenger was not prepared to give.

Now it seems they are interested again as they step up a search for a holding midfielder with Mikel Arteta injured and Mathieu Flamini has struggled to make himself a regular.

Wenger has publicly admitted that he wants a defensive midfielder but ideally he would look at one who could also play centre half. Dortmund’s Sven Bender could do that role but was on the bench this weekend.

Thrashed: Luiz Gustavo was part of the Brazil team battered 7-1 by Germany at the World Cup (Photo: Getty Images)

Wolfsburg and Juventus are keen on Podolski who was left out of the squad for the trip to Everton on Saturday.

Podolski is on £100,000-a-week which could be a major stumbling block for interested clubs and it is believed Juventus are interested in a loan rather than a permanent switch.

But Wolfsburg have the cash to make a permanent move and a deal involving Podolski could make it happen. Podolski wants to be starting more regularly but it is far from inevitable that he will leave this summer.